Image forming apparatus, image processing system having the same, and method for performing reservation job of the image forming apparatus

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

p-0002This application claims benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2007-127712, filed on Dec. 10, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-00031. Field of the Invention

p-0004Aspects of the present invention relate to an image forming apparatus, an image processing system having the same and a method for performing a reservation job of the image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus which performs a reserved job periodically, an image processing system having the same, and a method for performing a reservation job of the image forming apparatus.

p-00052. Description of the Related Art

p-0006In general, an image forming apparatus forms a visible image on a printing medium based on a provided image data. The image forming apparatus may be a printer, a facsimile, a digital copier, a multifunction device, etc. Here, the multifunction device performs at least printing, scanning, and facsimile functions. As an example of a conventional image forming apparatus, the multifunction device may have a reservation function for printing, scanning, and facsimiling jobs.

p-0007If a user uses the reservation function for such jobs as printing, scanning, and facsimiling, it is necessary to set a reservation job, such as select a job to be reserved and set a time of performing the reserved job, each time the user uses the reservation function, i.e., the reserved job and the performance time of the reserved job become null after one use. Thus, after the reserved job is performed, information about the reserved job is reset.

p-0008Accordingly, if a user wishes to reserve the job to be performed periodically, such as daily or weekly, the user must periodically set up the reservation job.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0009Aspects of the present invention provide an image forming apparatus, which periodically performs a reserved job, such as fax sending, e-mail sending, and printing, an image processing system having the same, and a reservation job performing method of the image forming apparatus. Additional aspects of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.

p-0010According to aspects of the present invention, a method for performing a reservation job of an image forming apparatus, includes: selecting a kind of job among a plurality of different kinds of jobs to be reserved as job data; setting a time for starting and a period for performing the job reserved as the job data; and performing the selected job reserved as the job data at the set time and period.

p-0011According to aspects of the present invention, the method may further include storing the job data to be performed at the set time according to the set period.

p-0012According to aspects of the present invention, the storing of the job data may include storing the job data in at least one of the image forming apparatus, a portable storage medium connected to the image forming apparatus and a host connected to the image forming apparatus.

p-0013According to aspects of the present invention, the storing the job data may include storing the reserved job data in folders according to the plurality of different kinds of jobs.

p-0014According to aspects of the present invention, the setting of the time for starting and the period for performing the reserved job may include setting the time for starting and the period for performing the reserved job individually with respect to the folders storing the job data.

p-0015According to aspects of the present invention, the kinds of jobs stored in the folders may include at least one of sending a fax, sending e-mail, and printing.

p-0016According to aspects of the present invention, the method may further include: setting detailed information according to the kinds of jobs.

p-0017According to aspects of the present invention, at least one of the image forming apparatus, the portable storage medium, and the host checks the detailed description and the kind of job assigned to the folder through an attribute file stored in the folder, and performs the reserved job according to the kind of job and the detailed information.

p-0018According to aspects of the present invention, at least one of the selecting the kinds of job, the setting the time for starting and the period for performing the reserved job, and the setting the detailed information may be performed through a user interface provided in the host.

p-0019According to aspects of the present invention, the method may further include authenticating a user to allow only the authenticated user to select the kinds of job and to set the time for starting and the period for performing the reserved job.

p-0020According to aspects of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes: a job selecting unit to select the kinds of jobs to be reserved as job data; a period setting unit which to set a time for starting and a period for performing the job reserved as the job data; a controller to control the selected job reserved as the job data to be performed at the set time; and a storing unit to store the job data.

p-0021According to aspects of the present invention, the storing unit may store the job data in a folder in at least one of the image forming apparatus, a portable storage medium connected to the image forming apparatus, and a host connected to the image forming apparatus.

p-0022According to aspects of the present invention, a plurality of folders may be provided plurally to respectively store the job data according to the kinds of jobs.

p-0023According to aspects of the present invention, the period setting unit may set the time for starting and the period for performing the reserved jobs according to the plurality of folders, respectively.

p-0024According to aspects of the present invention, the kinds of job to be selected and stored in the folders by the job selecting unit may include at least one of sending a fax, sending e-mail and printing.

p-0025According to aspects of the present invention, the apparatus may further include: a detailed information setting unit to set detailed information according to the kinds of jobs.

p-0026According to aspects of the present invention, the apparatus may further include: a user authenticating unit to authenticate a user to allow only the authenticated user to select the kinds of jobs and to set the time for starting and the period for performing the reserved job.

p-0027According to aspects of the present invention, an image processing system, may include: an image forming apparatus; and a host to control the image forming apparatus.

p-0028According to aspects of the present invention, the storing unit may store the job data in a folder in at least one of the image forming apparatus, a portable storage medium connected to the image forming apparatus, and a host connected to the image forming apparatus.

p-0029According to aspects of the present invention, a plurality of the folders may be provided to respectively store the job data according to the kinds of job.

p-0030According to aspects of the present invention, the period setting unit may set the time for starting and the period for performing the reserved jobs according to the plurality of folders, respectively.

p-0031According to aspects of the present invention, the kinds of job to be selected and stored in the folders by the job selecting unit may include at least one of sending a fax, sending e-mail and printing.

p-0032According to aspects of the present invention, the image processing system may further include: a detailed information setting unit to set detailed information according to the kinds of jobs.

p-0033According to aspects of the present invention, the image processing system may further include a user authenticating unit to authenticate a user to allow only the authenticated user to select the kinds of jobs and to set the time for starting and the period for performing the reserved job.

p-0034Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0035These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

p-0036<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

p-0037<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a schematic view illustrating an image processing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

p-0038<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a flowchart illustrating a method for performing a reservation job according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

p-0039<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a flowchart illustrating a process for selecting a job and a process for setting a time for starting and a period for performing a reserved job according to the job reservation method of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

p-0040Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The exemplary embodiments are described below so as to explain the aspects of the present invention by referring to the figures.

p-0041<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, an image forming apparatus <b>1</b> includes a control unit (central processing unit) <b>10</b> to generally control the elements of the image forming apparatus <b>1</b>, a printing part <b>21</b> to print an image, a scanning part <b>23</b>, a reservation setting unit <b>30</b>, and a storing unit <b>40</b>. Also, the image forming apparatus <b>1</b> may include a facsimile unit <b>25</b> to transmit and receive data.

p-0042The printing part <b>21</b> prints image data on a printing medium fed from a medium feeding unit (not shown) and discharges the printing medium through a medium discharging unit (not shown).

p-0043The scanning part <b>23</b> optically reads an image from a document and converts the read image to the image data. The image data is stored in the storing unit <b>40</b> as a file. Detailed descriptions of the printing part <b>21</b> and the scanning part <b>23</b> will be described below.

p-0044The storing unit <b>40</b> stores a file to be transmitted to the printing part <b>21</b> or the like. The storing unit <b>40</b> may be provided in at least one of the image forming apparatus <b>1</b>, a portable storage medium which can be connected to the image forming apparatus <b>1</b>, and a host which can be connected to the image forming apparatus <b>1</b>. The host may include a server or personal computer, which can control the image forming apparatus <b>1</b> in addition to the control unit <b>10</b>. The storing unit <b>40</b> may be provided as a memory element or a hard disk and may have folders to maintain and manage the stored file. Also, the storing unit <b>40</b> may store job data to be reserved. Here, the job data is stored as a file in at least one folder provided in the storing unit <b>40</b>.

p-0045The reservation setting unit <b>30</b> is provided to reserve jobs for operations of the printing part <b>21</b>, the scanning part <b>23</b>, and the facsimile unit <b>25</b>, and the reservation setting unit <b>30</b> may include a job selecting unit <b>31</b> and a period/time selecting unit <b>33</b>. The job selecting unit <b>31</b> selects a job to be reserved with regard to at least one of the job data stored in the folder. Here, the job to be reserved may include facsimiling, sending an e-mail, printing, and so on.

p-0046The folder in the storing unit <b>40</b> may include a plurality of folders as illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. In this case, the plurality of folders are set according to the kind of job to be reserved, respectively. The kinds of jobs, which are assigned to the folders by the job selecting unit <b>31</b>, may include at least one of transmitting a facsimile, sending an e-mail, and printing.

p-0047For example, referring to Tables 1 and 2, the job of fax sending may be assigned to a first folder <b>41</b> which is designated “FAX(<b>1</b>),” and the job of e-mail sending may be assigned to a second folder <b>43</b> which is designated “e-mail.” Further, a fax number, and the period, and the time (to be described later) are set with regard to the first folder <b>41</b> and/or the second folder <b>43</b>.

p-0048<tables id="TABLE-US-00001" num="00001"><table frame="none" colsep="0" rowsep="0"><tgroup align="left" colsep="0" rowsep="0" cols="3"><colspec colname="offset" colwidth="28pt" align="left" /><colspec colname="1" colwidth="98pt" align="left" /><colspec colname="2" colwidth="91pt" align="left" /><thead><row><entry /><entry namest="offset" nameend="2" rowsep="1">TABLE 1</entry></row><row><entry /><entry namest="offset" nameend="2" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row><row><entry /><entry>Item</entry><entry>Value</entry></row><row><entry /><entry namest="offset" nameend="2" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></thead><tbody valign="top"><row><entry /><entry>folder name</entry><entry>FAX(1)</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>period/time</entry><entry>1_Day/11:30 PM</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>job</entry><entry>Fax_Sending</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>Other fax information</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>fax number</entry><entry>1234567</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>. . .</entry><entry>. . .</entry></row><row><entry /><entry namest="offset" nameend="2" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

p-0049<tables id="TABLE-US-00002" num="00002"><table frame="none" colsep="0" rowsep="0"><tgroup align="left" colsep="0" rowsep="0" cols="3"><colspec colname="offset" colwidth="21pt" align="left" /><colspec colname="1" colwidth="105pt" align="left" /><colspec colname="2" colwidth="91pt" align="left" /><thead><row><entry /><entry namest="offset" nameend="2" rowsep="1">TABLE 2</entry></row><row><entry /><entry namest="offset" nameend="2" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row><row><entry /><entry>Item</entry><entry>Value</entry></row><row><entry /><entry namest="offset" nameend="2" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></thead><tbody valign="top"><row><entry /><entry>folder name</entry><entry>e-mail</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>period/time</entry><entry>Weekly/10:00 AM</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>Job</entry><entry>Email_Sending</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>Other e-mail information</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>e-mail address</entry><entry>abc@defg.com</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>. . .</entry><entry>. . .</entry></row><row><entry /><entry namest="offset" nameend="2" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

p-0050The period/time selecting unit <b>33</b> sets the time for starting and the period for performing the reserved job. Referring to Table 1, one day is set as the period at the end of which the reserved job recurs, and 11:30 PM is set as the time for starting the reserved job. Here, a user can voluntarily set the period for performing the reserved job by selecting two days, a week, a month, etc., as well as the one day.

p-0051Further, in the case that the plurality of folders are provided in the storing unit <b>40</b>, the period/time selecting unit <b>33</b> may set the time for starting and the period for performing the reserved job individually with regard to each folder.

p-0052Accordingly, it is convenient for a user because the kinds of jobs, and the time and period for the reserved job are set individually according to the plurality of folders.

p-0053Further, the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment may additionally include a detailed information setting unit <b>35</b> to set detailed information according to the kinds of jobs. The detailed information to be set via the detailed information setting unit <b>35</b> for facsimile jobs may include information about a fax mode, a transmission resolution, retransmission times if an error occurs, etc. The detailed information to be set via the detailed information setting unit <b>35</b> for the job of sending e-mail may include information about a file format, an attached file, a carbon copy e-mail address, etc. The detailed information to be set detailed information setting unit <b>35</b> for the job of printing may include information about color or monocolor printing, the number of printing pages, selection of a paper tray, etc.

p-0054In addition, whether the reserved job is removed from the folder after the reserved job, such as the fax sending, the e-mail sending, or the printing, is completed normally may be set via the detailed information setting unit <b>35</b> as the detailed information.

p-0055The detailed information set by the detailed information setting unit <b>35</b> may be stored as an attribute file in the corresponding folder. Thus, the detailed information of the job to be reserved can be set through the controller <b>10</b> when the periodic jobs are reserved corresponding to the folders, respectively.

p-0056Further, the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment may additionally include a user authenticating unit <b>37</b>. The user authenticating unit <b>37</b> allows only a user having authority to select the kinds of jobs to set the time for starting and the period of performing the reserved job and to set the detailed information of the job to be reserved. In particular, a user may have an identification and a password to log on to the image forming apparatus <b>1</b>.

p-0057The controller <b>10</b> generally controls the image forming apparatus <b>1</b> according to a preset program. For example, the controller <b>10</b> controls an image processing unit <b>45</b> to process image data input from the host through an interface or scanned by the scanning part <b>23</b>; the scanning part <b>23</b>; the printing part <b>21</b>; and the reservation setting unit <b>30</b>.

p-0058When the job data is stored in the storing unit <b>40</b>, the controller <b>10</b> controls the stored job data to perform the reserved job at the starting time every period set by the period/time selecting unit <b>33</b>. At this time, the controller <b>10</b> checks the kinds of jobs and the detailed information with reference to the attribute file of the detailed information stored in the corresponding folder, and thus performs the reserved job according to the detailed information.

p-0059In the image forming apparatus having the reservation function with this configuration, the reserved job, which is selected for the job data (file) stored in the folder of the storing unit <b>40</b>, may be repeated periodically. For example, if the image forming apparatus is connected to and has to periodically send a fax to a predetermined receiver through a communication line, a user only moves the file for the fax to the folder of which the kind of job is set as the fax sending, so that the fax can be sent each period at the set time, thereby increasing convenience to a user.

p-0060<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a schematic view illustrating an image processing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the image processing system includes the image forming apparatus <b>1</b> and a host <b>50</b> connected to the image forming apparatus <b>1</b>. The image forming apparatus <b>1</b> and the host <b>50</b> may be connected to each other through a serial bus, a parallel bus, a wired or wireless network, or the like. The host <b>50</b> applies a printing order to the image forming apparatus <b>1</b>, and the image forming apparatus processes image data to form an image on a printing medium M.

p-0061The image forming apparatus <b>1</b> is similar to the above-mentioned image forming apparatus <b>1</b>, and hence repetitive descriptions thereof will be avoided.

p-0062Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the printing part <b>21</b> prints an image on a printing medium M by an electro-photographic method, a medium feed unit <b>218</b> to supply the printing medium M to the image forming unit <b>210</b>. The printing part <b>21</b> includes a photosensitive body <b>211</b>, a charger <b>212</b>, an exposure unit <b>213</b>, a development unit <b>214</b>, a transfer unit <b>215</b>, and a fusing unit <b>217</b>.

p-0063An image forming process of the printing part <b>21</b> will be described as follows. First, the photosensitive body <b>211</b> is uniformly charged with an electric potential by the charger <b>212</b>. If the photosensitive body <b>211</b> is scanned by a light signal from the exposure unit <b>213</b> corresponding to the image data, an electro-static latent image is formed on the photosensitive body <b>211</b> as an electric potential level of a part scanned by the light beam is decreased. Subsequently, a development bias voltage is applied to a development roller <b>220</b>, so that a toner (not shown) from a toner container <b>221</b> is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body <b>211</b>, thereby forming a toner image on the photosensitive body <b>211</b>.

p-0064Further, the printing medium M drawn out from the medium feed unit <b>218</b> is transported to the image forming unit <b>210</b>.

p-0065An arrival of the printing medium M to a transfer nip between the photosensitive body <b>211</b> and the transfer unit <b>215</b> is adjusted so that a leading edge of the toner image formed on the photosensitive body <b>211</b> also arrives at the transfer nip. Accordingly, if a transfer bias voltage is applied to the transfer unit <b>215</b>, the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive body <b>211</b> to the printing medium M. After the printing medium with the toner image passes through the fusing unit <b>217</b>, printing of an image is completed as the toner image on the printing medium M is fused by heat and pressure. Then, the printing medium M with the image formed thereon is discharged by a medium discharge unit <b>219</b>.

p-0066The image forming apparatus <b>1</b> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an ink-jet type image forming apparatus as an alternative to the above electro-photographic type image forming apparatus. The ink-jet type image forming apparatus may include a cartridge including an inkjet head, a carriage to transport the cartridge, and a carriage driving unit. Further, according to aspects of the present invention, the image forming apparatus <b>1</b> is not limited to the above description such that any image forming apparatus may be used, such as a double-pass image forming apparatus.

p-0067The scanning part <b>23</b> includes an illuminating unit <b>233</b> to illuminate a document or object to be scanned which is placed on a document tray <b>231</b>, an image forming lens <b>235</b>, and a sensor <b>237</b> to read image data of a document according to light reflected from the document on the document tray <b>231</b>. The light illuminated from the illuminating unit <b>233</b> is reflected by the document and passes through the image forming lens <b>235</b>, thereby forming an image on the sensor <b>237</b>. The sensor <b>237</b> reads the image data from the document according to the image formed thereon.

p-0068Further, the scanning part <b>23</b> may additionally include a plurality of reflecting mirrors <b>234</b> provided between the document and the image forming lens <b>235</b>. The plurality of reflecting mirrors <b>234</b> provides an optical path within a limited space of the image forming apparatus <b>1</b>. The reflecting mirrors <b>234</b> change the optical path by reflecting the light reflected by the document.

p-0069In the present embodiment, the reservation setting unit <b>30</b> is used for setting the reservation job, such as selecting the kind of jobs to be reserved, the time and period for performing the selected job, and the detailed information, but the host <b>50</b> may alternatively be used. For example, a display <b>51</b> of the host <b>50</b> may display file information about the image forming apparatus <b>1</b> so that a user can set the reservation job using a keyboard <b>53</b> or a mouse <b>55</b>.

p-0070Below, a method for performing a reservation job of the image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 through 4</figref>.

p-0071<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a flowchart illustrating a method for performing a reservation job according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 through 3</figref>, the method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes selecting the kinds of jobs (S<b>10</b>); setting a time for starting and a period for performing the reserved job (S<b>20</b>); determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied (S<b>30</b>); and performing the reserved job periodically if the condition is satisfied (S<b>40</b>).

p-0072The operations S<b>10</b> and S<b>20</b> for setting the conditions are achieved by a user's selection. In other words, the operations S<b>10</b> and S<b>20</b> are implemented in initially setting the reservation job, amending the reserved job, or reserving a new job. Consequently, the operations S<b>10</b> and S<b>20</b> are not needed while performing the reserved job periodically.

p-0073At the operation S<b>10</b>, a user selects the kinds of jobs which can be applied to the job data of the job to be reserved. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method for performing the reservation job may further include storing the job data in the storing unit <b>40</b>.

p-0074The storing unit <b>40</b> may be provided in at least one of the image forming apparatus <b>1</b>, the host <b>50</b>, and the portable storage medium (not shown). Here, the portable storage medium may be a storing medium which can be wirely or wirlessly connected to the image forming apparatus <b>1</b> or the host <b>50</b>. For example, a hard disk, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone, a memory element, or the like may be used for the portable storage medium.

p-0075The storing unit <b>40</b> includes the folder in which the job data is stored in the form of a file. In more detail, the storing unit <b>40</b> includes the plurality of folders to which the kinds of jobs are assigned, respectively. Thus, in the operation of storing the job data, the job data may be stored in different folders according to the kinds of jobs. Here, the kinds of jobs set to the respective folders may include the facsimiling, the e-mail sending, and the printing.

p-0076In addition, the operation S<b>10</b> may further include setting the detailed information of each kind of job. As examples of the detailed information, the detailed information for the job of facsimiling may include information about a fax mode, a transmission resolution, retransmission times at an error, etc.; the detailed information for the job of sending e-mail may include information about a file format, an attached file, a carbon copy e-mail address, etc.; and the detailed information for the job of printing may have information about color or monocolor printing, the number of printing pages, selection of a paper tray, etc.

p-0077In addition, as an example of setting the detailed information, it may be set whether the reserved job is removed from the folder after the reserved job, such as the fax sending, the e-mail sending, or the printing, is normally completed.

p-0078The operation of setting the detailed information may further include generating an attribute file involved in the detailed information and storing the attribute file in the corresponding folder. Thus, the image forming apparatus <b>1</b> or the host <b>50</b> checks the kinds of jobs and the detailed information with reference to the attribute file stored in the corresponding folder, and thus performs the reserved job on the basis of the kind of job and the detailed information.

p-0079Here, at least one of selecting the kinds of jobs; the time for starting and the period of performing the reserved job; and setting the detailed information may be performed through a user interface provided in the host <b>50</b> or the image forming apparatus <b>1</b>.

p-0080Further, the method for performing the reservation job according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may further include authenticating a user, thereby allowing only a user having authority to select the kinds of jobs and to set the time for starting and the period of performing the reserved job.

p-0081Further, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the operation S<b>20</b> includes setting the period of performing the reserved job periodically at operation S<b>21</b>, and setting a time for starting the reserved time S<b>23</b>, thereby allowing the reserved job to be performed periodically. The operation S<b>20</b> may be performed individually with regard to each of the folders if the storing unit includes the plurality of folders. As to the time for starting and the period of performing the reserved job, the plurality of folders may be set independently of each other, so that a user can diversely reserve the periodic job as desired.

p-0082Referring back to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the operations S<b>30</b> and S<b>40</b> are performed after the kind of job is selected and its starting time and performing period are set at the operations S<b>10</b> and S<b>20</b>.

p-0083In more detail, at an operation S<b>31</b> the controller of the image forming apparatus or the host may determine whether a current time equals the set starting time and the performing period of the reserved job. At the operation S<b>31</b>, if the current time reaches the set starting time and the period for performing of the reserved job, the operation S<b>40</b> is implemented. On the other hand, if the current time does not reach the set starting time and the performing period of the reserved job, it is repeatedly determined as time progresses whether the current time equals the set starting time and the period until a termination order is input. However, aspects of the present invention are not limited thereto such that the reserved job may be performed any number of times, which may be determined within any period or may be determined when setting the starting time and the period for the reserved job.

p-0084At an operation S<b>35</b>, the controller of the image forming apparatus or the host may determine whether the job data is stored in the storing unit <b>40</b>. Here, the operation of storing the job data in the storing unit <b>40</b> includes selecting a document file to be stored, and storing the selected document in the corresponding folder of the storing unit <b>40</b>. The document is selected between an image data file scanned through the scanning part <b>23</b> or a document file stored in the storing unit <b>40</b> of the image forming apparatus <b>1</b> or the host <b>50</b>.

p-0085If it is determined that the job data is stored in the storing unit <b>40</b> at the operation S<b>35</b>, the facsimiling, the e-mail sending, the printing, or the like is applied to the stored job data according to the selected kind of job at the operation S<b>40</b>.

p-0086On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no stored job data at the operation S<b>35</b>, it is determined whether to terminate the job or not without implementing the operation S<b>40</b>. Aspects of the present invention are not limited to the methods illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3 and 4</figref> such that if the controller <b>10</b> of the image forming apparatus <b>1</b> or the host <b>50</b> determines that there is no stored job data, the image forming apparatus <b>1</b> or the host <b>50</b> may issue an alert, such as an email, print out, audible, or visual alert to a user. Further, if the expected job data corresponds to a user having input an identification and a password, such an alert may be issued to the authenticated user.

p-0087According to the foregoing job reservation method for the image forming apparatus, if the fax sending, the e-mail sending, the printing, etc. is to be reserved periodically, the reservation job is achieved by storing the job data in the folder assigned to the certain kind of job without setting the reservation job each time such reservation job is to be performed, thereby enhancing a user's convenience.

p-0088As described above, aspects of the present invention provide an image forming apparatus, an image processing system having the same, and a method for performing a reservation job of the image forming apparatus, in which folders are provided in a storing unit to store job data according to the kinds of jobs, and a time for starting and a period for performing a reserved job are previously set so that a reservation job is easily performed by storing the job data in the folder assigned according to the kinds of jobs, thereby improving a user's convenience.

p-0089Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.